Does furikake go bad and expire? How to store it for additional shelf life
Most types of furikake seasoning mix are usually made with toasted sesame seeds, nori salt, and sugar.
Japanese people like the spice because it makes plain sushi rice taste delicious umami.
You can easily buy packages of furikake in Japan with a large variety of flavors ranging from salmon to wasabi and even egg.
While nori by itself can last quite a long time, it’s because of these additional ingredients that furikake can have a much shorter shelf life, and I’ll show you how you can keep it for longer.
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How do you store furikake rice seasoning?
You can keep the seasoning until the expiration date in the pantry. Once you open the seasoning, you must keep it in the fridge and it should be consumed within one month. Furikake without any fish can be kept for up to six months.
Furikake is not like salt and it does expire and spoil. However, it can last for a while, especially the store-bought variety (like these top furikake flavors).
Pre-bought seasonings should be checked for expiration dates on the packaging. However, it must be noted that the expiration date is the date before you open the packet.
You should remember that homemade furikake doesn’t last as long as the store-bought varieties.
After your homemade furikake cools, store it in an airtight container. Eat it within 3-4 days.
It can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a month if it is not possible. You can also freeze homemade and store-bought furikake for up to one month.
Also find out if miso can expire (storage tips & how to tell when it goes bad)
How do I store furikake to extend shelf life?
In humid environments, you might wish to freeze your furikake for extended shelf life.
Nori by itself
Unopened Nori can last 3-5 years if sealed. There have been some signs that your opening package has gone bad. The shelf life of nori depends on a variety of factors such as the best by date and preparation procedure and storage techniques.
When properly stored, seaweed’s shelf life reaches its maximum by dates and is roughly approximately or it goes bad.
It comes in different shapes, sizes, and tastes and has a long shelflife. It is a common food staple in Japan particularly California rolls of dried seaweed.
Can I use old furikake?
When we returned from our travels to Asia, we had an opened bottle of furikake in the pantry. It was expired, and it had been open for at least a year. It was fine to eat, but it was a bit soggy, not crispy anymore.
It was the variety with just nori and sesame seeds without any fish, so those you can safely eat for a lot longer.
Does Furikake go bad?
If the packet is swollen it’s probably best to stay away from it, but otherwise you might try putting the furikake in a low oven and let it soak then give it a strong shake in a clean container to break up lumps. It should be fine from then on.
Also read: this is how you make furikake yourself with our top recipe
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Bitemybun's family recipes with complete meal planner and recipe guide.
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Joost Nusselder, the founder of Bite My Bun is a content marketer, dad and loves trying out new food with Japanese food at the heart of his passion, and together with his team he's been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with recipes and cooking tips.
